Narcissists in companies

What is a narcissist, how do you recognize them?

Narcissism is a personality disorder that causes the person affected to have an exaggerated sense of their own importance. They also believe that they are special and deserve more than other people. Narcissists care mostly about themselves, which is why dealing with them can be difficult.

How to deal with narcissists?

Narcissists are often negative and unhelpful, even when you do everything they ask of you. If you notice narcissistic traits in a colleague, or supervisor, here is some advice on how to deal with them. First of all, understand that the narcissist is unlikely to change.

Do not expect too much from him. Do not try to „convince“ him to be someone else. They will only be offended and punish you for it later.

Try to keep your expectations realistic. If he is inattentive, or often late, don’t expect an apology, because you won’t get it.

If an opportunity for sincere praise arises, praise the person, gladly in the presence of others. These small gestures can do a lot to keep the peace and improve your relationship with him.

Finally, you should respect him and his opinion and under no circumstances contradict him publicly. Narcissists are often very insecure within themselves, so they will attack others if their ego is threatened in any way. Allow them to feel respected during your interactions, in return they will be more likely to respect you.

What difficulties does a narcissist present in the workplace?

Can you recall a time when your boss was so focused on themselves that they had no idea what you were doing or how to help you? What about those moments when he took credit for your work just because he wanted praise from his superiors? We will explain to you the 8 difficulties with a narcissist at work.

• It is very difficult to work under the supervision of a narcissist.
• The praise for your achievements belongs to the boss, not to you.
• They can make everything about them, even if it has nothing to do with them.
• Narcissists are known for their lack of empathy, and they tend to take advantage of that fact.
• Dealing with narcissists can be very difficult because they always feel they are in the right.
• They will claim credit for your work no matter what you do.
• It is quite possible that narcissists will try to ruin your career if it means they can advance themselves.
• It is almost impossible to build an honest relationship with them.

Narcissists in leadership positions

Narcissism is a common problem when a person with leadership responsibilities exhibits such traits. These individuals often create a toxic climate in the company. Narcissists are often good at promoting themselves, but lack the ability to make others feel valued.

Employees live under constant tension: it is often not easy to work for a narcissistic boss. These bosses are demanding and expect nothing less than perfection from their employees! Narcissists often do not allow their employees any autonomy because they want to be involved in every decision-making process and usually take credit for it. This can also be seen, for example, when narcissists regulate everything down to the smallest detail, or even dictate what employees have to do and how. If they do not behave according to the wishes of the narcissist, or if they resist, they must expect a rough reaction. Not infrequently, their job depends on their willingness to obey unconditionally. Employees of narcissistic bosses are therefore often not very motivated, have already resigned themselves inwardly, and do their work as best they can, without enthusiasm or commitment.

Narcissism in the workplace: Can the next generation Managers solve the problem?

Recent research shows that narcissistic personality traits are on the rise in the workplace. In fact, up to 70% of people workers exhibit some degree of narcissism and can be found in every industry and organization.

Will the next generation solve this problem? Again, recent research shows that it is not likely to! There is a tendency for narcissistic traits to increase among the next generation of leaders, regardless of gender.

So how can you prevent decisive positions from being filled with narcissists?

The personnel consultancy Deltacon supports companies in finding suitable candidates. Using proven diagnostic methods, Deltacon ensures that only high-caliber candidates are selected and presented. These are tested for their personal value system, among other things, by means of our executive profiling. The candidates selected in this way will sustainably improve the corporate culture and the success of your company.

Let us work together to ensure that the days of narcissists are numbered! Secure the future of your company and hire only candidates who follow the right values.

Deltacon Executive Search is the experienced partner at your side.